If you lived in this town and heard their fans talking today you might understand.

One dude at 7-11 actually told me that he is anxious for free agency to begin because of how many players want to play for a defending champ.

Hockey just seems to have a way of kicking fans like this in the face.

Most of the time when people start going on about how hot a team is or what a front-runner they are for the cup anytime before April, I tend to be very wary. It just always seems to be the way of it, save for a couple of really special teams that come along now and then. The 93 Penguins were also unstoppable............in March.

I certainly think the Caps winning a cup at some point is possible but I still think they will have to go the way of the Pens and the Hawks and lose in a conference or cup final before they do so. They haven't been taken to "deep playoff school" yet.